Pubdate: Thu, 29 Apr 2010
Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Press-Enterprise Company
Contact: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters_form.html
Website: http://www.pe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830
Author: John F. Hill
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Dispensaries

WILDOMAR RESIDENTS WEIGH IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

A month after Wildomar shut down a storefront medical marijuana 
collective, the City Council on Wednesday heard testimony from 
medical marijuana advocates, a sheriff's deputy and a mental health expert.

The meeting could be a step toward passage of a law regulating, and 
thus allowing, medical marijuana dispensaries in the young city. 
Wildomar currently bans dispensaries.

It was unclear late Wednesday whether the council would ask for an 
ordinance to be drafted, the next step toward allowing marijuana 
facilities in the city. The discussion stretched well past 10 p.m.

An overflow crowd of about 75 had people waiting in the hallway for 
their turn to speak.

Christopher Fichtner, a physiatrist and the former director of mental 
health for Illinois, told the council he had interviewed many 
patients who said medical marijuana lessened their need for harsher 
medications.

"If when the rubber hits the road, and a patient says it's better 
than things that have side effects ... we should be allowing it, 
instead of coming up with a bunch of reasons why they can't," Fichtner said.

Other speakers expressed concerns about where the businesses would be 
located, or whether they should be allowed at all. Those remarks drew applause.

The council took up the issue last month after a storefront medical 
marijuana collective opened its doors. The nonprofit dispensary, 
Wildomar Patients Compassionate Group, was open for a weekend before 
the city ordered it closed.

At that point, council members said they needed to know more before 
deciding whether to adopt an ordinance. That led to Wednesday's meeting.

Now, the council is considering whether to allow medical marijuana 
businesses in certain areas of the city and, if so, how strictly to 
control them.

Kyle Castanon said he wanted to open a storefront in the city. He 
urged the council to pass a local law that would allow dispensaries 
but tightly control them.

Advocates claim bans against dispensaries are illegal because they 
conflict with Prop. 215, which allows the use of medical marijuana.

City leaders across the state are watching a court case involving 
Anaheim's ban. That case is expected to determine whether they are 
allowed under state law, said City Attorney Julie Hayward Biggs.
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